Electrical immersion-heater



A. J. GALLAGER.

ELECTRICAL IMMERSION HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-18,1919- Patented Jan. 18,

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ELECTRICAL IMMERSION HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 18, 1919.

Patented Jan. 18, 1921.

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ELECTRICAL IMMERSION HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 18, I9I9. 1,365,978.

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flfGaZZa/ger Patented Jan. 18, 19210 PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT J. GALLAGER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRICAL IMMERSION-HEATER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Patented Jan. 18, 1921.

Application filed 0ctober18, 1919. Serial No. 331,628.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT J. GALLAGER,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident.

of the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Immersion-Heaters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electrical heatlng devices particularly adapted to be immersed in liquids and solutions of all kinds for the purpose of heating the same.

The principal object of my invention 1s to provide an electrical immersion heater wh ch with the exception of the electric heating circuits is composed of non-corrosive insulating material.

Another object of'my invention is to provide an electrical immersion heater wherein the heating element is in direct contact with a wall of substantially, pure fused silica, fused quartz orvitreosil, and which lat ter material transmits the heat generated by the heating element to the fluid or plastic material to be heated.

Another object of my invention is to so form and construct the heater that it is adapted for heating liquids in containers of various styles and shapes.

Other objects will appear from the sub joined specification and claims.

Referring to the drawings;

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view with parts in elevation, of one form of my improved heater.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in section of one end of the heating coil to show more clearly the special winding of the heating element.

Fig. 4 is a section on line H of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section with parts in elevation of another form of my improved heater.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section, partly in elevation, showing the construction, in use, of another embodiment of my invention.

.Fig. 7 is a section on line 77 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a section on line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

In the drawings in which the same reference characters refer to like parts:

In Fig. 1 A is the heat conducting medium consisting of a tube closed at one end and open at the other, illustrating the conducting wall of fused silica, fused quartz or vitreosil, B the heating element in the form of a coil of wire hereinafter described, and C a packing of insulating material consisting preferably of asbestos. D is an insulating tube of clay or other suitable electrical insulating material to support the I heating element and provide for a lead for the wire at one end of the coil. E is a cap of any suitable insulating material for retaining the terminals 10 and 11 of the heating element and which acts also as a stopper for the closed tube of'fused silica or fused quartz. The cap E is provided with receptacles 16 and 17 to receive the plugs 14L and 15 which form the terminals of the electrical conducting cord G, so as to make proper electrical connection in a manner well known in the art.

Other forms of connectors are shown in Figs. 2 and 5 in which F is a socket or connector made of suitable insulating material and provided with receptacles 12 and 13 in the base, to receive the terminals 14: and 15' of the heating element B. In Fig. 6 single insulated. socketed connections F and F fit over the terminal posts 10 and 11*, as clearly shown.

The construction of the improved heater 'is very simple and will now be briefly desome particularly suitable shapes being.

shown in Figs. 1,2, 5 and 6. In practice I have found a tube substantially one half inch in diameter to be a ractical structure,

the diameter of the interior of the tube be-- ing substantially one quarter of an inch, and the thickness ofthe sides substantially one eighth of an inch, though it is to be understood, of course, that my invention is not to be in any way restricted to these measurements.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, the

heating element B is shown wound in the form of a coil upon a hollow tube D of insulating material which supports the coil and also affords a lead. through its center for the wire of the coil passing to'one of the terminals. The heating element is shaped in the form of a closely wound. coil since this construction permits the maximum dissipation of heat in a minimum amount of space, A mass of asbestos or other insulating packing C is placed between the upper end of the tube D and lower end of the connector E which also acts as a plug for the tube D.

In Fig. lthe insulating connector and plug E containing one pair of terminals, is closely fitted to the open end of the tube of fused silica, as-clearly shown. This connector plug E may be of various shapes and provided either with projecting terminals or with receptacles fitted in the sockets therein, as clearly shown in the several figures of the drawing.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the heating element B. is shown as having a more or less open winding for the purpose of clearness in'illustration', but the coil is in fact closely wound so that the turns thereof are very near to each other though not touching. the actual winding structure being more clearly shown in Fig. 3.

The tube of fused silica or fused quartz may be either straight so that it may assume a vertical position in a container (not shown) of liquid to be heated or it may be shaped in the form of an angle so that it may more readily heat liquid in a shallow container (Fig. 5).

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8 I have shown an electrical heater embodying the basic principle of my invention but of different mechanical construction from those shown in the other figures of the drawing. In this case the tubes or cups constituting containers are formed of fused silica and these containers are marked respectively A and A The container A is of such size and has such dimensions that the container A nicely fits therein leaving a space S between the tube or cup in which the heating element 13 is placed. The heating element B is in the form of a helical coil and this coil is laid in thebottom of the container A in the 'manner of a grid shown in Fig. 8, each end of the coil passing between the sides of the two containers A and A being guided and held in place by means of suitable grooves in the surface of the inner cup A The leads from each end extend up into and form electrical contacts respectively with the terminal posts 10 and 11, passing through holes 22 and 23, in a ring of insulating material R forming a binding cap fitting over the upper edges of the containers A and A as clearly shown in the drawings, thereby effectually holding the containers together and forming a suitable support for the terminals. The electrical connection is made heating of the two separated bodies of liquid at the same time.

So far as I am aware, I am the first to construct an electrical immersion heater, the walls of which forming the heat conductin medium are made of substantially pure fuse silica, fused quartz or vitreosil, the heating coil being in direct contact with the walls of fused silica and transmits its heat through these walls'to the liquid, fluid or other material to be heated, and I wish to lay claim broadly to this construction.

By means of this construction the medium directly transmitting heat to the fluid or material to be heatedis not liable 'to electric short circuits and grounds, neither is it liable to a possible electrolytic reaction in the solution itself as would be the case with metallic immersion heaters. Furthermore, by means of the construction hereinabove described, I have invented and produced an electrical immersion heater which is'practically non-corrosive and is affected chemically only by hydrofluoric acid and hot concentrated alkaline solutions, and consequently my invention has a wide range of use.

The absence of metalin my construction enables it to be used commercially for heating oils, acids, weak alkaline and other chemical solutions, for sterilization and varied medical purposes, for 'home uses, namely, for heating water both in large and small quantities, and for heating liquid foods.

of all kinds. In the latter instance the wall of fused silica or fused quartz is glazed or satin finished, thus avoiding any possibility of contamination. Foods can thus be heated without a metallic taste being imparted to them or without subjecting them to the chance of being poisoned, which is a danger that exists where metallic substances are used.

The fact that the fused silica has an approximate softening point from 1500 de grees C. to 1600 degrees C. is a factor which gives great value to this material for the use described. The substantially high melt ing point for material of this kind enables the heating element to be placed in direct contact with the wall thereof and enables the heater to be operated at a very much hi her heat rate. The fused silica is also va uable for the'purposes described in view of the fact that it has practically a negligible coeflicient of expansion and it can be heated in a manner well known in the art by means to a glowing state and plunged into a cold fluid without cracking. Fused silica is mechanically strong which is another desirable factor.

The heating coil itself while an essential part of the heater can be formed in various shapes depending upon the type of the construction of the heater and may consist of any of the commercial alloys or metals, commonly used for that purpose such as platinum, tungsten, molybdenum for very high temperatures, and carbon, nickel, nickel chronium alloys, or Excello wire when lower temperatures only are desired. The material used would obviously depend upon the operating tem erature and the particular use for which t e heater is designed.

As changes of construction could be made within the scope' of my invention, it is in tended that all matter contained in the above 'metallic non-corrosive insulating material.

2. An electrical immersion heater pro- V vided with a body of insulating material, a

ing walls of' substantially pure fused silica,

heat transmitting-element consisting of substantially pure fused silica, fused quartz, or

vitreosil, surrounding first mentioned body,

and a heating element in contact with each of the adjacent walls of the first mentioned insulating body and heat transmitting ele ment.

3. An electrical immersion heater consisting of independently disposed heat conductfused quartzor vitreosil each wall of which is in direct contact with a heating element mounted between the said walls.

4. An electrical immersion heater consisting of a tube of substantially pure fused silica, a hollow rod of insulating material fitted within the tube of pure fused silica, a'heating coil mounted upon said rodand in direct contact with the inner wall of the tube of pure fused silica.

5. An electrical immersion heater consisting of'a tube of pure fused silica,'closed at one end and open at the other, a cap or cover' of insulating material for the open end of the tube, and an electric heatlng element in direct contact-with the innerwall of the tube.

. 6. An electrical immersion heater with a heat conducting medium separable consist- 1 ing each of which is of a pair of containers madeofsubstantially pure fused silica, one

I fitting within the other, a heating coil held between the walls of the two containers, means for securing the two containers together, the heating coil being in contact with the outer surface of the inner container and the inner surface of the outer container.

'7. An electrical immersion heater comprisinga tube of fused silica, a heating coil disposed therein, a heat insulating packing above said coil, and a closure for said tube having terminals, to which the ends of said heating coil are attached.

8. An electrical immersion heater comprising a tube of fused silica, having a closed and an open end, a heating coil unit disposed in said tube near the closed end, the said tube having a portion extending at an angle thereto, and a closure for the open end of said tube, having terminals to which the ends of said heating coil are attached.

9. An electrical immersion heater comprising an insulating tube, having a closed and an open end, a heating coil unit disposed in said tube near the closed end, the said tube having a portion extending at an angle thereto, and a closure for the open end of said tube, having terminals to which the ends of said heating coil are attached.

10. An electrical immersion heater comprising a tube of pure fused silica, having -a closed and an open end, a heating coil unit with terminals to which the ends of the heating coil are attached.

-11. A combined electrical immersion heater and heating vessel comprising a container having its outer and inner wall surfaces composed of pure fused silica, an electrical heating coil between said wall surfaces and terminals for said heating coil projecting from said vessel.

12. A. combined electrical immersion heater and heating vessel comprising a container having its outer and inner wall surfaces composed of pure fused silica, an electrical heating coil between said wall surfaces and terminals for said heating coil in the rim of said vessel.

13. A combined electrical immersion heater and heating vessel comprising an outer receptacle of pure fused silica, a heating coil having its convolutions in contact with the inner wall of said vessel, an inner receptacle fitting against the said convolutions, a ring connecting the rims of the two heater and heating vessel comprising an outer receptacle of pure fused silica, a heating unit of Wire bent back and forth on the bottom of said receptacle in the manner of a grid, the free ends from said grid being disposed in coiled form against the inner surface of said receptacle, an inner receptacle fitting against said Wire, a ring connecting the rims of the two receptacles to form a single vessel, and terminals for said 10 coil extending through said ring. y

In Witness Whereof,- I have hereunto set my hand at the borough of Manhattan city and State of New York, this 17 day of bctober, 1919.

ALBERT J. GALLAGER. In presence of- IsaBEL R. FLETCHER. 

